FORCARBON

III. 3 Development of novel materials based on functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs)

Single-walled carbon nanotubes [SWCNTs] (Figure 1) exhibit unique and novel physical, mechanical and materials characteristics such as e.g. electrical conductivity of individual molecules, magnetism in doted systems, specific optoelectronic and aggregation properties, and extremely high elasticity and tensile strength. Based on functionalization methods developed in the past years in Erlangen, in the course of the project soluble carbon will be produced to control the physical properties of SWCNTs and materials with unprecetendent properties developed. By means of suitable addition reactions to the conjugated p-electron system as well as by the attachment of dendritic and peptide-like functionalities at carboxylated nanotubes, the solubility of SWCNTs will become tuneable in a broad range, the tubes can be characterized in detail and their mechanical and electronic properties controlled. In addition, they can be processed to new and high-tech polymer composites. Beside covalent functionalization, also non-covalent aggregate formation with specific amphiphiles will be under investigation.